One-piece feeding garment

ABSTRACT

A one-piece feeding garment comprising a base shirt, where the base shirt is a one-piece bodysuit; a lower body portion on the base shirt, where the lower body portion covers a lower pelvis area of a wearer; a pocket on a front side of the base shirt, where the pocket provides an opening into the base shirt through which a feeding tube is threaded; and a fastening means on the pocket, where the fastening means secures the feeding tube within the pocket. The one-piece feeding garment provides the wearer with a bodysuit which comfortably secures the feeding tube to the port on the wearer&#39;s body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/705386 filed on Sep. 25, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a garment worn by a user that is a single piece and is adapted to allow a feeding tube to fit through the cloth.

2. Description of Related Art

Many individuals require the use of feeding tubes as an alternate way to receive nutrition. Typically, the feeding tubes are used because the user cannot receive food into their mouths, they are unable to swallow or they require nutritional supplementation. Placement of the feeding tube may be temporary for treatments of acute conditions like post-surgery or prematurity. Alternatively, permanent placement may be required for chronic disabilities like malformations of the mouth or neuromuscular disorders. Adults and children alike may require using a feeding tube depending on the disability or condition that they may be experiencing.

The two most common types of feeding tubes are those placed through the nose and those placed directly into the abdomen. The feeding tube on the abdomen includes a port that provides access into the stomach, and attaches to the feeding tube externally. Many times the feeding tubes in the abdomen are fondled, especially by children, because of their central placement on the body of the person. After repeated touching the opening to the abdomen around the port may become infected causing illness to the user. Also, the abdomen feeding tubes are more difficult to access around clothing, requiring the user to lift their shirt and expose their stomachs, which may be embarrassing and uncomfortable for the user. But being discrete can be time consuming and tedious for the caregiver if they are in a hurry or the patient will not remain still for the procedure.

Therefore, it would be beneficial in the art to provide a garment that is comfortably worn by a person that provides easy access to the abdominal port of a feeding tube. It would also be desirable in the art for the garment to remain in position during wear as to reduce tampering of the port.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a (very general purpose), configured to include all of the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a single-piece garment that fits comfortably around the body of the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a single-piece garment with a pocket as an opening into the garment that provides access to a feeding tube port through which a feeding tube is threaded.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a one-piece feeding garment is described comprising a base shirt, where the base shirt is a one-piece bodysuit; a lower body portion on the base shirt, where the lower body portion covers a lower pelvis area of a wearer; a pocket on a front side of the base shirt, where the pocket provides an opening into the base shirt through which a feeding tube is threaded; and a fastening means on the pocket, where the fastening means secures the feeding tube within the pocket. The one-piece feeding garment provides the wearer with a bodysuit which comfortably secures the feeding tube to the port on the wearer's body.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a one-piece feeding garment in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a garment worn by a user that is a single piece and is adapted to allow a feeding tube to fit through the cloth. The present invention provides a one-piece feeding garment designed to provide easier access to a user's feeding tube port, and to prevent tampering with the tube during use. The one-piece feeding garment is a bodysuit worn by the user with a pocket that provides an opening into the garment. The pocket may include a hook and loop fastener to securely position the feeding tube. With the one-piece feeding garment the wearer is provided a custom garment that comfortably secures the feeding tube to the port and protects the port from tampering and bacteria during use.

Turning now descriptively to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a one-piece feeding garment 100 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The one-piece feeding garment 100 includes a base shirt 110, where the base shirt 110 resembles a Onesie® or a one piece bodysuit. The base shirt 110 may include a pair of sleeves 108. The sleeves 108 may be short or long depending on the style preferences of the wearer. The base shirt 110 may be made from cotton, polyester, acrylic, nylon or a mixture of these materials, and may be adorned with a variety of patterns, pictures and designs. The one-piece feeding garment 100 may be available in sizes for both adults and children.

The base shirt 110 includes a lower body portion 112 to cover the lower pelvis area of the wearer. The lower body portion 112 includes a flap 114 to open the base shirt 110. The flap 114 is received between the legs of the wearer to create two leg openings 118 on each side of the lower body portion 112. The flap 114 includes a fastener 116 to enable the lower body portion 112 to open and securely close around the lower pelvis of the wearer. The fastener 116 may be a plurality of snaps, a tie, a hook and loop fastener (commonly known as Velcro®) and the like.

On a front portion of the base shirt 110 is a pocket 120. The pocket 120 provides an opening into the base shirt 110 through which a feeding tube may be threaded to attach to a port on the wearer's body. The pocket 120 includes a fastening means 130 to securely close the pocket 120. The fastening means 130 secures the feeding tube within the pocket 120 and prevents it from dislodging during use. The fastening means 130 may be a hook and loop fastener or a set of snaps. By securing the feeding tube within the pocket 120 infection risk is lessened and tampering is deterred. This way the feeding tube remains in place and the use has a comfortable garment to wear, without getting tangled in the tube.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A one-piece feeding garment comprising: a. a base shirt, where the base shirt is a one-piece bodysuit; b. a lower body portion on the base shirt, where the lower body portion covers a lower pelvis area of a wearer; c. a pocket on a front side of the base shirt, where the pocket provides an opening into the base shirt through which a feeding tube is threaded; and d. a fastening means on the pocket, where the fastening means secures the feeding tube within the pocket.
 2. The one-piece feeding garment according to claim 1, where the lower body portion includes a flap positioned between the wearer's legs, and where the flap includes a fastener.
 3. The one-piece feeding garment according to claim 2, where the fastener includes one of at least a plurality of snaps, a hook and loop fastener or a tie.
 4. The one-piece feeding garment according to claim 1, where the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener.
 5. The one-piece feeding garment according to claim 1, where the fastening means is a set of snaps.
 6. The one-piece feeding garment according to claim 1, where the base shirt includes a pair of sleeves. 